Washing machine



H. METHOT.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Aus.21, 1920.

1,402,634. Patented Jan. 3,1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1., I0

' INVENTOR I Mfr/7'07- Arrwmm WITNESSES H. METHOT.

WASHING MACHINE- APPLICATION FILED AUG-27,1920- c I 1,402,634. Patented Jan. 3, 1922.

SHEETS-SHEET 2. f2

WITNESSES 56 I l/Vl/EIVTDR A TTORNEVS nouns-merrier, or man BANK, I'EW was, I'

I wesnmo To all whom it mag concern? j Be it known thatI, HOMER MrnHo'r, a citizen of the United States, and a residentjof Red Bank, inthe county of Monmouth and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved WaShing'Machine, of which the following is-"a full, clear, and exact description.

The presentinvention relates to new. and

useful improvements in washing machines,

and it pertains more particularly to washing I machines of the power-actuated type.

It is one of the primary objects of the pres-' ent invention .to construct a powerfwashing of the machine.

machine of the reciprocating plunger type in which the articles washed are subjected to varying amounts of pressure. Y

It is a further object of theinvention to so construct a washing machine of this type'that the pressure of the plungers may be varied.

, It is a further object of the invention to provide a pivoted platform for supporting the drivingmechanisms of the plungers in such a manner that the plungers and their reciprocating means may not be subjected to undue strain during their operation;

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a rotary tub which is movable with respect to the plungers in order that all of the articles carried by the tub may be operated upon by said plungers. 1 It is a still further :object of the 'presen invention to supply washing fluid to the tub in a newand novel manner together with the provision of an over flow for the tub, where-'- by a constant 'circulation of cleaning 'fluid fthrough the tub is maintained. v With the above and other objects in view, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which y,

Figure 1 is a view in elevation'of a washing machine constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention;

Fig.2 is a vertical sectional view thereof; Fig. 3 is a schematic view showingthe' relative positions of theplungers during the oporation thereof; I

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional View of a portion Referring more particularly to the draw: 'ings, themachine comprises a framework 5, preferably formed of suitable angle irons, and said framework is supported from a base 6, and is strengthened by meansof a plurality of'angularly disposed braces 7 and transverse braces 8, it being understood that a Y V A Specification Letters Patent. Pafentea Application filed August 27, 1920. .Serial No. 403,293; 5

,gear 18 meshes witha gear 19 carried on-a shaft 20, and said shaft is provided witha 'crank shaft is rotated from the shaft 20. Rlgidly securedto the transverse braces. -8 as at 30, is a supporting member.31, and a" j rigidly carried by the supportin member at :I

jMounted in the brackets 32 are guide rods 33, in the present instance there bein three; 1g.

r 1 These guide rods 33are secured in place on mounted. These cross heads are arranged there are two outside vertical shafts 37 and MACEINE.

suflicient number of braces are employedto g ve the necessary rigidity to the" framework.

- Near the upper end 0 the vertical mem- 'T, 60.. .bemg one of these braces on each side of the 1 machine, and each of said braceshas oneiofF' .lts ends extended as indicated by the refer-. 5

bers of the frame.5 are two" braces 10, there ence character 11. Mounted in the extended 651 end 11 'of each of the braces 10, is a bearin' 12, and mounted in the bearing 12, is a sha 1-3. The reference character 14 desi platform provided 'witha bearing 15' which pivotally mounting the platform.

' Mounted on the platform- 14 is a motor 1 6,

.and said motor 16 has its shaft extended as indicated by the reference character 17 andprovided with a worm gear 18. This worm.

sprocket 21 of smaller diameter than the gear 19. Mounted in bearings'23 carried by the pivoted platform. 14, is 'a crank shaft-25, and 80:

around the small; 7 1

.said crankshaft 25' is provided with a sprocket 26. 'Passin V sprocket 21 on the sha t-20 and'the sprocket 26'on the crank shaft 25, is a chain 22,"and"- i i said. chain forms the means by which 'theits upper and lower edge, are rackets 32.

sets of guide rods 33,. as best seenin the'brackets 32 by means of cleats or the like i 34, and these .guide rods 33 form the su ort for the mounting of cross heads 35. ach

'of the cross heads 35 is provided with two tubular leg members 36 adapted to surround their respective guides 33 to formthe means by-which the cross heads are reciprocatively side byside, and secured to each of the cross heads as at 33', is a'vertically disposed shaft 37. By this arrangement it will be seen that one intermediate vertical shaft 37, and se-, cured to the lower end of each of the outside shafts 37, is a plunger 38 of substantially circular form, while'secured to the lower end of the central vertical shaft 37, is aplunger'i39, substantially elliptical in 7 form. The purpose of forming the central gnates a surrounds the shaft=l3and forms means for v 1 li t Y which trough 66 is charge or outlet 67.

' trough 66, is a tub 70, and said tub 70 is so plunger elliptical in form will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

means of connecting rods40, in order that as the crank shaft 25 is rotated, the'vertical shafts 35 willbe given a reciprocatorymovement and will be guided in such movement heads 35.

by means of the *While the crankshaft maybe formed as to have all ofthe shafts 37 reciprocate'in the same direction inthe preferred form of? the invention as illustrated, the crank members of the shaft 25 are'spaced equi-distantli' i of said frame,

apart about the arc subscribed by said cran shaft, in which position of parts a succes w sive action of the plunger-s is obtained rather than a simultaneousaction as in the aforementioned form 'wherethey operate in .the 3 same direction in unison.

Pivotally secured to the-shaft 13 as by 'means of-hinges'45, are arms 46, and said arms 46 form the means for pivotally mount-.. -ing a platform, 47,-said posed beneath the platform 14. Interposed. between thefree end of the platform 47 and the free end of the platform 14, is a coil spring 48, and said coil spring 48 is placed under compression upon movement of the platform 47 ina direction towards the plat form '14.

Two of the members of the frame 5 are ex"- said sprockets each of these the opposite sides of the platform'47 and ,carried by the opposite-end of each, of'the chains,'is a weight 55, the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained.

'Secured to one end of the shaft 51, is a Sprocket 56, and passing around the sprocket 56, is a chain 57, which chain also passes around a sprocket 58 mounted on the opposite side of the frame 5 and-operated by means of a hand crank 59. is mounted'on a shaft 60, and rigidly carried by said shaft 60, is a toothed gear 61. Pivotally mounted as at 62, to one of the transverse braces 8, is a dog 63, and said dog 63' has a hooked end 64 adapted to engage between the teeth of the toothed gear 61.

' The frame 5 is provided nearits lower portion with transverse braces 65, and

mounted on said braces 65 is a trough 66,

provided with a dis- Mounted' above the frame 5.

tub 7 guides 33 and the cross platform being dis- 88, is a'water su the; other side 0 The sprocket 58" To provide for revolubly mounting the 0, a transverse brace 1 is carried by the frame 5, and mounted on said transverse brace 71,- is a bearing block 72. This bearling block 72 is hollow andhas fitting therein a sleeve member 73. This sleeve member 73 has rigidlysecured thereto, as at 74, a

circular rack: 75, the purpose of 'which'rack I *will be hereinafter described.

. Mountedwithin' the sleeve member 73 is a tubular member 75, and said tubular mem- '-ber 75 is provided on its upper endwith a flange 7 6.", This flange 76 overlies the flan e of the sleeve member 73 and is secured to t e tub by means of bolts or the like 77. The lower. end of the flanged tubular member 75"- is projected below the brace 71 as indiw cated at 80, and is externally screw-threaded to provide for the attachment of a collar 81. Secured to the tubular member 7 5, by means of a collar 81, is a nipple 82, and. se-

- cured to the nipple 82, by. means of a collar 83, is an elbow 8 4. Th1s elbo'w84- is connected to apipe'85, whichjpipe. 85 is in turn connected to a '-I"-coupling 86. Leading to the T-cou'pling 86 is a pipe 87, the upper end of which is rovidedfwith. and leading mto one; side or the :'l'-coupling ply pipe 89, and leading to the 'T couplin'g is a steam The water supply pipe supply pipe 90. are con- 91- and 92, respectively,

supply pipe 90. 89 and the steam trolled by valves which valves controlthe. admission of either tended as indicated by the reference character 49, andmounted in the extended ends, by means of a bearing 50,- isa shaft 51. Mounted upon each end of, the shaft 51, is a sprocket 52, and passing around 52 are chains 53. One end of chains is attached as at 54 to water .or steam, or ,both, to the pipe 87 .Leadingtfrom the. opposite. side of the T- 91 and 92 are closed and the valve 94 is open,

the tub will be drained of its'liquid contents. The tub 70 is provided with two overflow pipes 98 and 99, the overflow 99 being pos1t1oned at a point nearer the top of the tub than the overflow. 98, and these overflows are adapted to beclosed by means of a plug 100.

As before stated, the circular rack 75 is secured to the tub 70, and to provide for moving the tub in a step-by-step circular path, a dog or pawl 105 is adapted to successively engage the teeth of the rack 75. This dog or pawl 105 is pivotally secured as at 106 to a lever 107,- and said-lever is in turn pivotally mounted as at 108, to the I frame 5. Pivotally connected as at 109, to the dog or pawl 105, is a vertically extending rod 110, and said vertically extendingrod' 110 is pivotally secured as at 111 toone'arm 112 of a bell crank lever, which is pivotally mounted as at 113 to one of then per transverse braces 8. Pivotally secured as at 114,

adin

to the arm 11 5 of the bell 'crankilevenis a By thiseonstruction it'isapparent p *qrod 116, and said rod 116 is eccentrically "wronnected at 117 to a rotatingfdisk 119" {mounted on the'shaft 13. This shaft 13 is rotated from the crankshaft 25,. by means of achainf120, said chain passing: around an SPIQOkGlY WhBBI' 121' (Fig. '2) carried by'the crankshaft 13, and a sprocketwheel 122" mountedonthe crank shaft 25;???

the rod -110 is reciprocated,', thefpawl-"*105 will be--engaged.,jwith the several teethg75 moving the tub 70 likewise.

The device operates i manner:

Assuming that the articles to be washed have been placed in the tub 70-, the 'valves 91 and 92. areyopened to admit water and steamto" the pipe 87, and thence toI-the tub "70, said water entering the bottom of thetub and passing through the perforated false bottom therein. The motor 16 is .now i started, and through the medium of the '25 be given a vertlcal movement in contact with I the articles being washed. As the plungers 1 1.338 and 39 move vertically into and out of crank shaft 25,the plungers"38 and 39 will engagement with the clothes, it will be seen that through the medium of the plvoted dog 105 and the vertical rod 110 whichcauses said dog to successively .enga e the teeth f the circular rack 75, the tub will be rotated $5 in a stepby'step manner, to ent different surfaces of the articles be1n washed to the action of the plungers 38. 1 s shown int I Fig. 3, it will be noticed that inasmuch as the central plunger 39 is oval, it will serve i' plungers.

b to engage the'articles being washed at that form, will leave portions of the articles being washed which would not be subjected to the action ofthe plun ers were it not for the fact that the central p un er is oval inform,

thus covering the space in the tub not coveredby the circular plungers 38.

If in the operation of the plungers, 1t-1s desired to decrease the pressure with which "they engage the articles being washed, it

will only be necessary to disengage the hook end 64 of the dog 63 from the toothed gear 61, and by means of the operating handle 59 and the chain 57 rotate the shaft 51.

' v 47 and will place thespring 48 under com- 60 Upon rotation of the shaft 51, the chain 53 will cause a lifting of the floating platform pression. As the spring 48 is placed under compressioruit will be seen that the upper v floating platform 14 will be slightly elehat as:

latter intheir stroke, and, therefore,

the period of, compression of the articles being washed will be lessened. If, however,

thelower platform 47 is lowered thus loweringthe upper platform 14, it will be seen that the several plungers will engage the articles being washed at an earlier period in their stroke, and that therefore said articles being washed will be subjected to greater ,pressure than is the case where the platforms g fare'elevated. As the several plungers -enof the circular rack and W111 move the same in a circular direction and consequently gage the articles being washed,. it will be seenthat the two floating platforms 14 and '47- will be rocked about their respective pivotal points when the limit of compression has been reached, in order that the several parts of the mechanism may give way to a .strain occasioned by the compression in the tub-when the latter has reached its limit. 'As the plungers 37 continue to operate in contactQW th-t e articles being washed and ythefdirt'is released therefrom, said. dirt will float; tothe surface of the washing fluid and may be carried ofl either by the overflow 98 -or the overflow 99 depending upon which of these. two overflows is opened to the interior production of pressure are employed, and it i desired to regulate or vary the pressure of the plungers.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the ,present invention provides a new and novel form of washing machine in which a p'omt where- .theyare not engaged by the.

' plungers 38 as the tub rotates beneath the As the .tub rotates beneath Y thev I plungers, theplungers 38 being circular in plurality of vertically movable plungers adapted to exert pressure upon the articles being washed, are employed, said plungers being so constructed and arranged as to vary the pressure at which they operate on the articles sub'ected to the washing machine.

It will a so be noted that by introducing the washing fluid to the bottom of the tub, and subsequently draining the same from the top thereof, the articles being washed are atall times subjected to clear and clean washing fluid, the dirt being carried off from the top of the tub at a point above the articles being washed.-

Claims: 3

1. A washing machine comprising a frame, a washing receptacle, a plurality of plun ers movable within said receptacle, a

'plat orm pivotally mounted in the frame,

means for resiliently mounting said pivoted platform, and driving means for said plungers, said driving means being mounted upon. the resilient pivoted platform.

2. A washing machine comprising a frame, a washing receptacle, a plurality of plungers movable within said receptacle, a

pivoted platform mounted said frame, a

second platform resiliently mounted with respect to the pivoted platform, and driving means carried by the pivoted platform and connected with said plungers, "said pivoted tioned platform, and driving means for said plungers, said driving means being mounted upon said resiliently mounted platform, as ring for the purpose set forth.-

4. frame,a washing receptacle, a plurality of plungers movable vertically wit washing machine comprising :a

.20 i I insaidre f ceptacle, aresilient pivoted platform' mount-.

ed in said frame, and driving mechanism for said plungers, said driving mechanism being mounted upon 1 said pivoted resilient plat- 'form whereby the driving mechanism and its support are movable relatively to said Plungers, I

toms METHOT. 

